Description

HIGHAM FERRERS MARKET SQUARE
SP9668SW (East side)
20/56 Bede House
23/09/50 (Formerly listed as Bede House
and Preaching cross)
GV I

Bede house, now church hall. c.1428, restored C19. Squared coursed and banded
limestone and ironstone with C20 plain tile roof. Hall plan with chapel at east
end. Single storey. South elevation of chapel of one-window range with 2-light
ogee-head window with panel tracery. Gabled roof with ashlar gable parapet and
finial. 2-stage clasping buttress at corner, with gargoyle above. 3-light east
window with renewed panel tracery. North elevation of chapel is similar to
south. Window has renewed tracery and crocketted hood mould with carved label
stops. Arch-head entrance to undercroft to far right. South elevation of hall is
of 6 bays. 2-window range. 2-light square-head windows with transoms and cusping
to second bay from either end. North doorway in bay to far left. 2-stage
buttresses between bays. Ashlar gable parapets and rebuilt lateral stack. C20
single-storey extension attached to right of centre. North elevation of hall is
similar to south elevation. South doorway in third bay from west end has moulded
stone surround with 4-centre arch head, and hood mould with label stops
decorated with rosettes. West elevation has central doorway with 2-centred arch
head, and crocketted hood mould with label stops decorated with rosettes.
5-light Perpendicular window above with panel tracery, crocketted hood mould and
carved label stops. Double-chamfered plinth around whole building divides and
rises over doorhead. Carved kneeler to left side of gable and bellcote at apex
with crocketted gable. Canopied niches with C20 figures, in sides of bellcote.
Interior: hall has C15 fireplace in right wall with 4-centred arch head and hood
mould. 5 Bedesmens lockers in left wall have C20 doors. Restored C15 roof
structure with moulded arch braced trusses. Moulded and chamfered arch from hall
to chapel has castellated capitals to responds. Ogee-head niches to either side
of east window and ogee-head piscina to right. Undercroft under chapel not
inspected. Bede House was re-founded in 1428 by Archbishop Henry Chichele. The
foundation was for 12 old men and a woman attendant. Each had a cubicle and hall
locker within the hall. It continued in use until C18. The chapel, which was
roofless by mid C19, was restored by Earl Fitzgerald.

Listing NGR: SP9614068486

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17526831

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)